In my most recent book, MURDER IN THE MANUSCRIPT ROOM, one of the characters, a librarian, says after discovering she’d been under surveillance in the library and elsewhere, “Everybody’s spying on everybody.”

You’d think no institution in the nation cares much about privacy protections anymore. But you’d be wrong. There’s at least one place in the nation’s cities, towns, and most villages that respects our privacy. Public libraries care passionately about protecting the confidentiality of library users.

Congratulations, you’re a book! A real live BOOK written by a very smart and funny librarian named Annie Spence. We know that other librarians love you too, since you’re a LibraryReads pick and that you’re pretty well-written because industry journals gave you starred reviews.

We hope you spend lots of time off library shelves and in readers’ homes and hearts.

Dearest Librarians,
Once again, I’m baaaaack!! My maternity leave flew by and while it was bittersweet to leave baby Martin and big brother Daniel this morning, I’m so excited to be back and working with all of you again.

Now you might think I spent the last 3 months in a haze of snuggly cuddles and making fun family memories with trips to the beach, the zoo, and going apple picking (and you’d be right), but I also read a LOT:

“Having launched himself with MR. PENUMBRA’S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist in first fiction with best-book and Alex Award claims to fame, Sloan here keeps his San Francisco setting but makes his main subject bread. Lois Clary, a software engineer at an ambitious robotics company called General Dexterity, is bequeathed a sourdough starter by her favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurateurs when they leave town fast owing to visa problems. Soon she’s baking up a storm and confounding the jury that decides who can sell in Bay Area markets by dreaming up her own market blending food and technology.” — Library Journal, pre-pub alert

“This inventive novel, from the author of MR. PENUMBRA’S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE (2012), is filled with crisp humor and weird but endearing characters…At once a parody of startup culture and a foodie romp, Sourdough is an airy delight, perfect for those who like a little magic with their meals, as in Laura
Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate (1992).”–Booklist, starred review

“Library lovers will dig the apropos subject headings she gives each letter; fellow bibliophiles will swoon at her well-articulated feelings about her favorites; all will find the breakup notes oddly cathartic (“I’m putting you in a Little Free Library”) and appreciate her book’s final, readers’-advisory-informed section of superb reading lists of all sorts…clever, heartfelt, and often-funny…Someday, somewhere, a book addressed in a loving letter might be one of hers: Dear Dear Fahrenheit 451, thanks for the lovely reminder of the ways we find ourselves in books.”—Booklist, starred review

“This book should appeal to readers who are looking for the next Texts from Jane Eyre, or those who enjoyed that concept but don’t especially like texting. It will also attract anyone who, upon walking into someone’s house, first side-eyes the bookshelves and instantly judges. VERDICT Highly recommended.”–Library Journal, starred review

Come by the Macmillan Adult (Griffin Teen, Flatiron Books YA, Wednesday Books) booth #2714 for some great giveaways and meet librarian Annie Spence starting at 5:30pm as she signs free advance readers copies of her book, DEAR FAHRENHEIT 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks, just for YOU!

*Nominations are due July 20!Click here for the full list of 2017 deadlines.

DEAD WOMAN WALKING by Sharon Bolton
In this supenseful standalone thriller from LibraryReads author Sharon Bolton, the sole survivor of a hot-air balloon crash witnesses a murder as the balloon is falling. But the killer’s also seen her, and he won’t rest until he’s eliminated the only witness to his crime.

SLEEP LIKE A BABY by Charlaine Harris
In the next installment of the #1 New York Times bestselling and LibraryReads author Charlaine Harris’s Aurora Teagarden series, Roe has a newborn to care for, a vulnerable new marriage to nurture, and a new puzzle—who is this mystery woman dead in their backyard, and what happened to their home nurse, Virginia?

Download the e-galley from Edelweiss

THE ESSENCE OF MALICE by Ashley Weaver
“Don’t be surprised by the Eiffel Tower on the cover; sparkling British amateur sleuth Amory Ames has traveled with husband Milo to Paris in response to a disturbing letter from his childhood nanny. She works for celebrated parfumier Helios Belanger, whose new perfume is about to be released. And our sleuthing couple is quite sure it’s not the heady scent of the perfume that makes Belanger suddenly drop dead. Fourth installment in the Edgar-nominated, 1930s-set mystery series by librarian [and LibraryReads author] Weaver.” — Library Journal, pre-pub alert

Download the e-galley from Edelweiss

SECRETS IN DEATH by J.D. Robb
“Gossip reporter Larinda Mars has been murdered at a way-too-cool Manhattan nightspot called Du Vin, and Lt. Eve Dallas is dismayed to learn that her dislikable victim kept her worse secrets from her column, instead using them for blackmail. Now Eve has a lot of dirty secrets to sort through, and she’ll discover things she’d really rather not know. The latest in Robb’s “In Death” series, optioned for TV; with a national laydown on September 5.” — Library Journal, pre-pub alertreadmoreremove

Join Rakesh Satyal (NO ONE CAN PRONOUNCE MY NAME) as he discusses his latest novel during this United for Libraries and GLBTRT co-sponsored panel moderated by Library Journal‘s Barbara Hoffert. A book signing will follow the program.